Out-of-control bushfires burn across the Northern Tablelands following weekend lightning strikes

And crews are fighting hard to ensure no properties are threatened. 

Armidale Rural Fire Service Superintendent Steve Mepham said they were working with National Parks to fight an out-of-control blaze near Guy Fawkes.

Another fire is tearing through bushland in the Guyra area, roughly off the Guyra-Ebor Road at Beesnest Ridge.

“That’s the main one of concern in the Guyra area,” Mr Mepham said.

“The wind has given us grief.”

The Dorrigo Plateau east of Armidale has an out-of-control blaze, with lightning strikes on Sunday night suspected to be the cause.

NSW RFS Superintendent Chris Wallbridge told Fairfax Media a fire at Glen Elgin near the Gwydir Highway past Glen Innes sparked overnight.

“Potentially it started from lightning strikes on Monday night,” he said.

“It’s being controlled and we’ve got crews out there working on it.”

Superintendent Wallbridge said firies were up against some “quite challenging conditions” with dry weather and high winds across the Northern Tablelands and most of the northern part of NSW. 

“Certainly at the moment with the dryness of the fuel (grass) and the wind, all fires are quite challenging to bring under control,” he said.

“Crews are having to work pretty hard to pull up any fires.

“It’s certainly challenging right across our area at the moment and pretty well the north of the state where it’s fairly dry.

“National Parks also have crews out and there’ll be some fairly extensive back-burning operations happening overnight across the area as the winds die down.”

Superintendent Wallbridge said no properties were under threat at this stage with any of the four blazes.

“All properties are safe and we have crews on the ground at all incidents,” he said.

“There are a couple of houses in the area but crews are working to make sure they’re safe.

“Nothing is directly under threat at this point.”

To report a bushfire hazard call the RFS on 1800 679 737.